Address industry concerns over e-Trip: Punjab leader of Opp

Slamming the newly-introduced e-Trip system as being a "draconian" measure, leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Sunil Jakhar, has said Punjab government must take steps to address the concerns of industry over the anti-tax evasion mechanism.
Jakhar said he regretted how the state government had "shut its door" on industry and was "bent upon" going ahead with its decision without giving due attention to trade and industry concerns.
In a statement here, Jakhar said, "How could the government go ahead with such an important decision (e-Trip) when the industry has not been taken into confidence."
"It (e-Trip) is too dictatorial and draconian... The government (has gone ahead with it) without bothering about what the affected people think (on the issue)," he said.

Taking a dig at BJP, he said that the SAD ally had failed to take up the concerns expressed by industry.
He also criticised the working of the boards which were set up to act as conduits between the government and trade and industry.

"The chairmen of these boards, BJP nominees, enjoy ministerial status... But have failed to take up the issue," Jakhar said.
The Punjab excise and taxation department has brought six commodities - cotton, mustard, plywood, iron & steel (excluding scrap), yarn, and vegetable oil (edible and non-edible), under the ambit of e-Trip, mainly to check tax evasion and under-invoicing.

Under the above system, any dealer or manufacturer selling these goods within the state is required to submit information regarding the transaction on the website of the department before physical movement of the goods takes place.
Transactions below Rs 50,000, however, are exempted from the e-Trip regulation.